Rudolph m



(N0 Model.)

R. M. HUNTER.

v ELECTRIC RAILWAY. No. 443,452. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

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RUDOLPII M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,452, dated December 23, 1890.

Original application filed September 23, 1886, Serial No. 214,399. Divided and application filed June 1, 1887, Serial No, 239,930.

Again divided and this application filed September 1890. Serial No. 364,028. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Im- 5 provement in Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric railways; and it consists of certain improvements, which are fully set forth in the following :0 specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This application (Case 169) is a division of my application, Serial No. 239,930, filed June 1, 1887, which in turn is a division of my application, Serial N 214,309, filed September The essential features of my invention, so far as the conductors are concerned, lie in the use of suspended working-conductors arranged along the track, combined with supply-conductors for supplying electricity to said working-conductors at intervals along their length. In connection with suspended conductors referred to I employ an electrically-propelled vehicle provided with an upwardly-extending current-collector device furnished with contacts making a continuous traveling under contact with the respective workingconductors. These workingconductors are bare and maybe made in the form of flexible cables, wires, or rods. The supplyconductors, which are directly connected with the source of electrical energy, may be insulated throughout their entire length and elec- 3 5 trically connected atintervals With the bare conductors, notwithstanding various d1tfer- 5o ences in the elevation between the said conductors and road-bed or railway, and the railway is lighted by electric lamps of any suitable construction, either incandescent or are, and the said lamps are coupled in multiplc with the supply-conductors by fixed connections, and, furthermore, are independent of the working-conductors. The supply and working cond uctors are preferably supported from poles arranged at intervals along the railway, and these electriclamps may be supported, also, upon these poles.

In the drawings, Figurel is an elevation of an electric railway embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the current-collecting device, showing its relation with the suspended conductors; and Fig. 3 is a similar end View showing a modified arrangement of the collector-Wheels on the collector-arm.

A are vertical posts, of wood or metal, and support the working suspended conductors B B, which may be secured by the leverarms B These levers may be counterweighted, if desired, and are secured to the posts A; also, supported upon the posts A are supply-00nd uctors b, the said supply-conductors being connected to the electrical generator A, provided with a regulator A and also electrically connected at intervals with the working-conductors B 13- by means of branch conductors b. At intervals along the railway are electric lamps Q which may be supported upon the posts or poles A, and these lamps are in multiple connection with the, supply-conductors b. The object of the lamps is to light the electric railway independently of the lights in the electricallypropelled car.

A are the rails of the railway, upon which the electrically-propelled vehicle runs, and 0 are arranged parallel to the working-conductors. The car 0 is provided with an upwardlyext-ending support or arm 0, to which are journaled the collector-wheels 0*, said Wheels being directly insulated from each other and run against the under surface of the suspended oonductors B. 13, receiving current therefrom. The ca rt isprovidcd with a frame l3,sup1,tortcd upon its axles, and carried upon this frame is an electric motor I)", mechanically connected to rotate the axle of the car.

E is the motor-circuit, including the motor and a current-regnlator or resistancc'changer c, and has its terminals connected to the respcctive current-collecting wheels L.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the workingconductors l; i are illustrated as located at different elevations above the roof of the car. Idonot limit; myself to these locations of conductors and the collectorwheels, as they may be arranged in the rela tion shown in $3, in which the said conductors and wheels are substantially in the same horizontal plane. lhc working and supplyconductors are arranged at a suflicient distance above the railwayto be out of reach of persons walking thereon, and the car provided with upwardly-extending currentcollecting devices, preferablysupported from the roof of the ear. It will be seen from the construction herein set out that the same up wardly-cxtemlingeollcctor-arm (3 carries both of the electrically-independent contact devices C The construction of my improved system is such that through the compensation between the current-collecting devices and the working-conductors the collector-contacts maintain a continuous under running contact with the cond uetors, irrespective of the varying normal distances between the suspended conductors and the railway.

I do not confine myself to the details of construction of the means for supporting the workingconductors, nor to the particular construction of the current-collecting devices herein set out, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the principles of my invention.

Broadly considered, my invention comprehends an electric-railway system wherein there are two separate working-conductors mechanically independent of the railwaytrack, combined with two supply-conductors, one for each working-conductor, and an elcctrically-propelled car provided with a current-collecting device indc iendcnt. of its wheels.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric railway, two suspended bared working conductors, arranged one above the other and at different levels from the ground, in combination with a road-bed, a traveling vehicle, a motor on said vehicle, two collectors carried by the vehicle and making electrical contact with said workingconductors, two insulated supply-conductors electrically connected at intervals with the working-conductors, and a source of electrical energy in connection with said supplyconductors.

2. The combination, in an electric railway of. two suspended and COtllltQlbdlttilCCtl bared workingconductors, with two lixcd supply conductors respectively connected with said working-00ndnctors, a source of electric supply tor said snpply-conductors, suitable devices to regulate the supply of currentin said supplyconductors, a traveling vehicle, an electric motor on said vehicle, and an electrical connection between the motor and workirig-conductors.

I}. In an electric railway, the railwaytrack, in combination with two suspended conductors arranged at an elevation above the car, supply-conductors connected with a source of electric energy and connected at in tcrvals, respectively, with the working-conductors, a car, an electric motor mechanically connected to the axle of the car for propelling it, an upwardly extending current collecting device carried by the car and making an under running contact with the working-conductors, and a motor-circuit on the car, including the motor and connecting with the respective contact devices.

4-. In an elcctricrailway, the railway-track, in combination with two suspended. conductors arranged at an elevation above the car, supply-condactors ctmnccting with the source of electric energy and connected at intervals, respectively, with the workingconductors, a car, an electric motormechanicallyconnected to the axle of the car [or propelling it, an upwardly-extending current-collecting device carried by the car and making an under running contact with the workirig-conductors, a motor-circuit on the car, including the motor and connecting with the respective contact devices, and a current-rcgulating device arranged upon the car for controlling the current passing through the motor.

In an electric railway, the combination of the rails, suspended working-conductors supported from the posts arranged along the railway, two supply-con doctors also supported upon said posts and connecting with the working-conductors at intervals along the railway, a source of electric energy connecting with said conductors, an electric car, an electric motor to propel the car, and a cu rrent-collecting device carried upon the car, making electrical connection with the suspended working-conductors, t'or supplyingclectricity to the motor.

0. In an electric railway, the combination of the rails, suspended \VO1'l ll1g-C0l1(ltlCtOlS supported from the posts arranged along the railway, two supply-condu ctors also support d upon said posts and connecting with the workin g-conductors at intervals along the railway, a source of electrical energy connecting with said snpply-conductors, an electric car. an electric motor to propel the car, independent under running contact devices carried upon the car and working respectively in connection with the two working-00nductors and an electric circuit carried by the car, including the electric motor and electrically connected to the under running contact devices.

. 7. In an electric railway, the combination of the rails, suspended working-nductors supported from the posts arranged along the railway,two supply-cond uctors also supported upon said posts and connecting with the working-conductors at intervals along the railway, a source of electric energy connecting with said supply-conductors, an electric car, an electric motor to propel the car, independent under running contact devices carried upon the car and working respectively in connection with the two working-conductors and supported upon an upwardly-extending arm arranged above the roof of the car, and an electric circuit carried by the car, including the electric motor and electrically connected to the under running contact devices.

8. The combination, in an electric railway, of the railway-track, two working-conductors extending along the track and electrically independent of it, two supply-conductors also arranged along the track and electrically con nected at intervals with the respective working-conductors, a source of electric supply for said supply-conductors, a traveling car, an electric motor to propel the car, current-collecting devices independent of the wheels of the car, making a traveling connection with the working-conductors, and an electric circuit. on the car, including the electric motor and the current-collecting devices.

9. The combination, in an electric railway, of the railway-track, two working-conductors extending along the track and electrically i11- dependent of it, two supply-conductors also arranged along the track and electrically connected at intervals with the respective working-00nductors, a source of electric sup ply for said supply-conductors, a traveling car, an electric motor to propel the car, current-collecting devices independent of the wheels of the car, making a traveling connection with the working-conductors, an electric circuit on the car,including the electric motor and the current-collecting devices, and a current-regulator in said motor-circuit for controlling the speed of the motor.

10. The combination, in an electric railway, of the railway-track, two working-conductors extending along the track and electrically independent of it, two supply-conductors also arranged along the track and electrically connected at intervals with the respective working-conductors, a source of electric supply for said supply conductors, a traveling car, an electric motor to propel the car, a current-collecting device independent of the wheels of the car, making a traveling connection with the working-conductors, an electric circuit on the car, including the electric motor and the current-collecting devices, and electric lamps arranged along the railway and electrically connected in parallel with each other and receiving current from the supplyconductors.

11. In an electric railway,the combination of the railway-track, supporting poles or posts arranged along the track, suspended workingconductors suspended from said posts above the car, supply conductors also arranged upon the posts and electrically connected at intervals with the working conductors, a source of electrical energy connected with the supply-conductors, and electric lamps arranged along the railway and connected in parallel with each other and receiving current from the supply-conductors.

12. In an electric railway, the combination of the railway-track, supporting poles or posts arranged along the track, suspended workingconductors suspended from said posts above the car, supply conductors also arranged upon the posts and electrically connected at intervals with the working conductors, a source of electrical energy connected with the supply-conductors, electric lamps arranged along the railway and connected in parallel with each other and receiving current from the supply-conductors, an electrically-propelled car, and a current-collecting device upon said car, making a traveling contact with the working-conductors, but out of reach of the supply-conductors.

13. In an electric railway, the combination of two suspended electric working-conductors arranged above the roof of the car and parallel to the railway, two supply-conductors electrically connected at intervals with the respective working-conductors and also connected with the source of electrical energy, a traveling car, an electric motor to propel the car, 7

two electrically-independent contact devices carried by the car and making a traveling contact with the respective working-conductors, and a motor-circuit including the motor and connecting with the two current-collecting devices.

14. In an electric railway, the combination of two suspended electric working-conductors arranged above the roof of the car and parallel to the railway, two supply-conductors electrically connected at intervals with the respective working-conductors and also connected with the source of electrical energy, a traveling car, an electric motor to propel the car, two electrically-independent contact devices carried by the car and making a traveling contact with the respective working-conductors, an upwardly-extending contact-arm common to both of the contact devices, arranged above the roof of the car, and a motor-circuit including the motor and connecting with the two current-collecting devices.

15. In an electric railway, the combination of the rails, supporting-posts arranged along the railway, two suspended working-conduct ors arranged above the root of the car and suspended from said posts, two supply-com ductors connected electrically at intervals with the working-conductors and also connected to a source of electrical energy, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, two electrically independent under running contact wheels supported above the roof of the car IIO and lnakine'zr traveling contact with the under ear upon the rnilwny-Lrzuzk, an electric motor surface of the working-condnetors, and a mo to propel the car, current-collecting devices tor-circuit connecting, the electric motor with curried by the car and making a traveling 15 the contact-wheels. connection with the working-conductors, and 5 16. In an electric railway, the combination a motor-circuit connecting the current-colof at railway-track, two bared working-com lecting device with the motor. dnctors arranged along the track, but electric- In testimony of which invention I have ally independent thereof, two insulated snphereunto set my hand. ply-conductors also arranged along the track [0 and connected electrically at intervals with 'itnesscs:

the working-eonductors and also connected ERNEST llowlim) HUNTER, with a source of electrical energy, a traveling 1 A. J. DUNN.

It. M. III'B ER. 

